Kansas City Chiefs OTA Report: Day 7

Conor Nestor Crawford

06/01/2010

It was a slow day at the Arrowhead practice facility, with the Chiefs running just about the same schedule as the six previous organized team activities.

Again, there was perfect attendance besides safety Jarrad Page, who has yet to sign his free agent tender. With the June 15 deadline for restricted free agents to sign their tender, Page will have to appear at the team's mandatory mini camps held between June 11th and 13th.

Quarterback Matt Cassel looked very sharp in seven-on-seven drills. There was also more work for the offense in situational drills taking place in the red zone. Almost all of Cassel's passes were short dump-offs to a receiver, and he had about 10 completions out of 15 attempts.

He made some tough passes in tight areas, which highlighted the abilities of both Cassel and his receivers. He struggled to connect with receivers on deep passes, with some balls passing over receivers' heads or out of bounds, but there were few attempts at long balls.

Tyler Palko took snaps as the second quarterback, taking over for Brodie Croyle, who was nursing an injury to his index finger on his right (throwing) hand. Todd Haley insisted that Croyle's injury is "nothing serious."

Small name players Jeremy Horne and Leroy Banks had strong practices, both making tough grabs in scrimmages and making an effort to keep both feet in bounds or holding tight onto the ball after initial contact.

When asked in the locker room about his status on the team, Banks said that he can play both tight end and fullback, and that the Chiefs' system is catching on fast for him. Banks was claimed off waivers and foresees a role for himself with the Chiefs. "I'm a free agent," Banks said, "I have to showcase my talent."

Todd Haley called the tight end position "critical" and that the team was making progress in that field. He noted that the coaching staff knows more about Brad Cottam than Tony Moeaki, who is still on the sidelines not participating in drills. I asked Moeaki in the locker room when he believed he would see action on the field, and he said that there's "no timetable" for him to participate.

On defense, Derrick Johnson seemed to have moved up the depth chart, standing alongside linebackers Mike Vrabel, Tamba Hali, and Jovan Belcher in seven-on-sevens. Todd Haley reiterated his thought that the depth chart is not something to get caught up in, but that if Johnson "can play big time football for us, that'll be good for the Kansas City Chiefs."

Lastly, Haley was asked his thoughts about 2014's Super Bowl XLVIII being played in a cold-weather market with an open-air stadium: "I'll coach it wherever they wanna play it," Haley grinned. "Just get me there."